I read the letters to the editor by Mr. Terry Garlock and Mr. Anthony Coleman, both concerning events surrounding the shooting of an unarmed young black youth by a police officer. Mr. Garlock defended a previous letter and Mr. Coleman wrote criticizing Mr. Garlock’s letter. Both letters were very well-written but neither really addressed the central issue.
Clearly a capital crime was committed. An unarmed citizen was shot at least six times and killed by a police officer.
I have a problem with the shooting. I do not understand how a policeman, charged to “serve and protect,” could feel justified in shooting an unarmed teenager in cold blood. That boy may have committed a crime, but certainly the shooting amounted to the unnecessary use of excessive force.
In any event it will be the responsibility of a grand jury to determine whether the police officer’s actions were justified. If, as I suspect, they were not, he should be charged and tried for murder. In any event there will be a cover-up and finding the truth will be difficult just as it was in the Trayvon Martin killing. Perhaps the boy, Michael Brown, did steal or misbehave in some way, but did he deserve to die?
I also have a problem with the use of excessive force by the Ferguson Police Department against the crowd that arrived to protest the real or perceived police brutality. Did the crowd control methods used by the police aggravate the situation by further enflaming and angering the crowd?
Apparently the observers saw the killing as more of the same police brutality that permeates law enforcement across this country. They have a reputation of “shooting first and asking questions later” and for the use of excessive force especially when dealing with ghetto blacks.
Along with every other institution in this country, law enforcement agencies are in need of review and reform. Stories of police brutality are legion.
Mr. Garlock lives in a world of the past that is filled with racism and hatred. It permeates his essays.
It would also be good if he could step out of his box and look at things objectively.
Mr. Coleman’s analysis of Mr. Garlock’s mentality is good. He is right about most of what he wrote, but he fails to recognize everything that happened was because of the killing of Michael Brown. He seems to think it is because we just can’t get along with each other.
Now Mr. Cal Beverly: Why do you print this hateful crud that Mr. Garlock writes? It diminishes you personally as well as the credibility of your newspaper. Your conservative perspective should be balanced by occasional progressive (liberal) articles as well as the ever-present right wing propaganda that fills your opinion page. It would create lively discussion and possibly even increased circulation.
David Browning
Peachtree City, Ga.
